Weekly random rambles, musings & writings of Mike Lee

The Bunny Bunny Game

December 26, 2010

Let me tell you how to play the Bunny Bunny Game.

First, you need a group of friends. More is merrier. Nine would be a comfortable number. Six is pretty tight. The absolute lowest number you can have is four, though if you start below six, it’s not as fun.

Ages can range, though I reckon grade schoolers will love this game. Adults will too, if they can tap into their inner child and act all goofy. That’s the key, of course: being able to act really goofy.

Get everyone to stand in a circle and face the center. You, as the organizer or party host, starts off the game. That means you are the bunny.

Being the bunny means putting your hands up to your face and spreading your fingers out, because they are your whiskers. Bend your knees slightly too.

The friends to your sides are also part of the bunny. They should scoot close to you and bend their knees slightly as well. The person on the right should lift up her right arm, and the person on the left should lift up his left arm. Those raised arms are the bunny’s ears. Which, I suppose, makes you just the bunny’s face.

The three of you must now chant, “Bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny!”

Then you, as the face of the bunny, points at someone else in the circle. That person becomes the bunny’s face. She must do the whole whiskers thing. The people to her left and right are also part of the bunny and do the ears. Together, the three of them also chant, “Bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny!”

When they are done, the center person should point at another friend, making them and their neighbors the new bunny.

I like to bounce a bit while I’m chanting. It’s optional, but once you get into the game, people often bounce a bit. Maybe it’s psychological, but I think it adds to the game. Plus, bunnies bounce.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. If someone makes a mistake, like accidentally raises the wrong arm, makes an ear instead of whiskers, or forgets to do their part of the bunny, then they are out.

People who are out must leave the circle. The game pauses for a second while they step out. Then everyone steps closer, tightens the circle, and the newly chosen bunny face continues with his new left and right ears. Those that are out walk around the circle and help catch others who slip up.

The game tends to get faster and faster as the circle tightens. It’s a natural occurrence, though I’m not quite sure why. Perhaps the energy is spiking and anxiety is peaking. People tend to chant, “Bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny!” faster too.

The game continues until there are only three people remaining. It gets really crazy when it’s down to six or less people, and remembering your role becomes harder and harder.

I’ve heard that some circles get really cut-throat. Others are a little more chill. I had the pleasure of being in a group full of lively humor. This is meant to be a goofy game, not a competitive sport. If you play it with an ounce of goof, you’ll bounce away happy.